Top Tips for Toddlers - Encouraging Good Habits

21 February 2018

Here at Campbell, we believe that good habits start early!

These two new Wiggle and Giggle tab books from the fabulously talented Jo Lodge, are aimed at toddlers from 18 months up to help them learn how to take care of themselves and how to be polite whilst eating. In Tiger, Tiger, Time to Take a Bath! exemplary animal role models show children how to deal with dirty ears, messy hair and a blocked nose. In Moo Cow, Moo Cow, Please Eat Nicely! they see exactly how NOT to behave with the very rude (but rather funny) animals and their awful slurping, gulping and burping!

We asked Jo about how she approached these two books, and if she has any ‘top tips’ for parents on bringing up well-behaved children.

Campbell: Do you think it’s important for children to learn table manners and how to look after themselves at such a young age?
Jo: It’s important to start as early as possible so good habits and manners come automatically to a child. I think the best way to teach children is by example. If you brush your teeth, so will they. If you pick your nose, so will they. Well-behaved children are much more pleasant to be with than rude ones!Campbell: Why did you illustrate animals in your books rather than children?
Jo: Children respond well to humour, so I illustrated the characters as animals as they are so much funnier to look at and I could also choose the animal that went best with the text and movements. For example, I used a crocodile to show children how to brush their teeth as he has such a long, wide mouth and lot of BIG teeth.

Campbell: How do you think young children will respond to your books?
Jo: I hope that the books will make them laugh and that they will have fun making the animals move as they play with the mechanisms. The rhymes are really sweet and simple - perfect for the toddler age range, and will hopefully be a springboard for more discussion with the parent/adult about good behaviour.

Campbell: How do you work out the mechanisms for your books?
Jo: The wiggle-tab mechanism allows for a ‘before and after’ so I think about what that could be. Sometimes, something disappears completely, like the apple down the duck’s throat, or it could just be a small movement like the cow chewing her food. I then think about the best way to show this movement and try out a few rough options before settling on the best one.

Campbell: Which is your favourite spread from each of the books, and why?[From Tiger, Tiger, Time to Take a Bath!] My favourite spread is the elephant because her whole expression changes as she blows her nose. I also think the rhyming, funny text works so well with the moving images.

[From Moo Cow, Moo Cow, Please Eat Nicely!] My favourite spread is the anteater because I think he is one of the strongest characters and I like the way his eyes close as if he is really enjoying slurping his ice lolly.

What can pussy cat see, donkey hear and rabbit smell? And what tastes so good to hungry fox? Wiggle the sliding tabs and giggle as the animals come to life! With brilliantly bold, bright pictures and a sweet, rhyming story loosely based on the senses this chunky board book by Jo Lodge is sure to put a big smile on your toddler's face!

Why is puppy dog happy and giraffe sad? What has surprised bear and who needs to run away from glum lion? Wriggle the sliding tabs and giggle as the animals come to life in this sweet, rhyming story loosely based on feelings.

What do you do if your ears are dirty, your nose is blocked or your hair is sticking up like a mad haystack? And just how do you achieve a really snappy, bright-white smile? Wiggle the sliding tabs and giggle as the animals show you how to take care of yourself!

How good are YOUR table manners? Do you eat with your mouth open like cow, or gulp your food like duck? Do you dribble like anteater or do you burp like pig? Wiggle the sliding tabs and giggle as the rude animals come to life!